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Movie Reviews

Reviewed by richard_robinson_810 / 10

Not what I expected... it was better!

This is listed on our cable service as a romantic comedy. It's not,
it's better than that.

I agree with other reviewers that the less you know about it the
better. It has what all great movies have - it makes you, no, it
actually lets, you think about yourself, other people, and emotional
situations in new and different ways.

Hard to believe you can get all that out of a such a small cast and
such limited locations. Many thanks to the writer, the director, and
the editor. Please, does anyone know where this was filmed??

One of the most original movies to come out in a while. I loved it & highly recommend this. Just don't tell anyone about the twist

"We had two completely separate experiences with each other that
neither of us remembers." Ethan (Duplass) and Sophie (Moss) are married
and are having problems. When their therapist recommends a weekend
getaway they jump at the chance. The night starts off great with a
romantic dinner but then things start to happen to each other without
the other one remembering. What starts off as confusion becomes
something that no one can or wants to believe. This is a movie that can
not be spoiled. The trailer does not give the main idea away and if you
have seen it please don't tell anyone else about it. The only way to
describe this is that it has a very Twilight Zone feel to it. This is
not a typical romantic comedy or even drama. What I will say is that
this is one of the most original movies that have come out in a while
and I absolutely loved it. This is a movie that must be seen and
recommended but not described. Much like the sixth sense it will be
ruined if you know the twist. Overall, one of the most original movies
to come out in a long time. I loved it and highly recommend this. Just
do not tell anyone about the twist. I give this an A.

You can't always get what you want

Greetings again from the darkness. Starting out with a typical marriage
counseling session, director Charlie McDowell and writer Justin Lader
lull us into a movie-going comfort zone based on our experience with
such Hollywood fluff as Hope Springs and Couples Retreat. All that
should be said at this point is ... not so fast!

A crumbling marriage and the subsequent lack of success with
communication, leads therapist (Ted Danson) to recommend a weekend
alone at a private country estate. The twists and turns that await
Ethan (Mark Duplass) and Sophie (Elisabeth Moss), take marriage
counseling to an entirely new spectrum. Sophie wants to reignite that
early relationship spark and Ethan just wants things back to normal.

The setting does justice to the legend of beautiful California real
estate, but things aren't all they seem as Ethan and Sophie bounce back
and forth between the main house and guest house. It's in these moments
where the big relationship questions are addressed ... and the script
is smart, funny, creative and dark. It's not likely anyone can watch
this without having some inner dialogue, and probably even some real
discussion afterwards.

Mark Duplass ("The League", Safety Not Guaranteed) and Elisabeth Moss
("Mad Men") not only carry the film, but also take on significant
responsibility with wide-ranging personality traits and subtle physical
changes. Duplass is exceptional and easy for most guys to relate to in
how he handles the challenges. While I've never been a big fan of Ms.
Moss, her performance here is quite impressive. Whether "together" or
"apart", they complement each other nicely.

The closest comparison I have for this one is Ruby Sparks (2012), but
this one will have you questioning what makes a relationship work and
what should we really expect in our partner. The idea of recapturing
the initial spark is absurd, but that doesn't lessen the need for
realistic expectations. For the first feature from director Charlie
McDowell (son of Malcolm McDowell and Mary Steenburgen) and writer
Justin Lader, the unique and creative approach to such a complex topic
make these two people to keep an eye on.